Interface module in a vehicle

ABSTRACT

An interface module in a vehicle is described, which provides for a vehicle a connection to a communication network, for example the Internet, and executes the function of a watchdog for the components in the vehicle connected to it. For this purpose, a processor of the interface module performs a function test of the connected components at specified time intervals and sends a function signal as a function of this function test. If at least one component is not functioning properly, the processor restarts the component concerned. This is achieved for example by switching a circuit breaker.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0001] The present invention is directed to an interface module in avehicle according to the species of the independent patent claim.

[0002] An interface module that connects a vehicle to a computer via aradio interface via the Internet arises from U.S. pat. application Ser.No. 573,074 A. The radio interface is connected within the vehicle tovehicle components and may be used to monitor vehicle components.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The interface module according to the present invention in avehicle having the features of the independent patent claim has theadvantage over the related art that the function of a watchdog isallocated to the interface module when monitoring the components. In theprocess, a function signal that states that the components beingmonitored are functioning properly is repeatedly produced at specifiedtime intervals and sent via the radio interface and the Internet, i.e.,a communication network, in order to be collected in a computer. Suchfleet management with respect to monitoring the functional capability ofthe individual components is possible in particular for vehicles forpublic short-distance passenger transportation.

[0004] Through the measures and developments cited in the dependentclaims, advantageous improvements of the interface module specified inthe independent patent claim are possible in a vehicle.

[0005] It is particularly advantageous when, in order to possibly remedythe error in this manner, the processor of the interface module triggersa restart of the component concerned when a function signal cannot beproduced because a component shows a faulty behavior during a test. Thisrestart may be advantageously triggered by switching a circuit breakerthat switches off and on again the energy supply to the componentconcerned. A relay may be used as such a circuit breaker, for example.

[0006] Furthermore, it is an advantage for the components to belong toan infotainment system positioned in a public short-distance passengertransportation vehicle. Here, the watchdog function in particular is anadvantage since the persons watching the infotainment components in thevehicle cannot operate them; a preset program runs instead. As a result,a restart by a user is not possible here, so that here, the interfacemodule according to the present invention takes remedial action.

[0007] Through the use of semiconductor memories in the interface moduleaccording to the present invention, it is possible to do without turningparts as well, such as a hard disk. This facilitates a greater degree offreedom in the assembly and in the load-carrying capacity of theinterface module according to the present invention.

[0008] Finally, it is also an advantage that the components in thevehicle are connected to the interface module via a bus, for example aCAN-bus. All connected components then have a bus controller.

Drawing

[0009] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated inthe drawing and will be explained in greater detail in the followingdescription.

[0010]FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the device according to thepresent invention in the vehicle,

[0011]FIG. 2 shows a vehicle with the device according to the presentinvention, connected to a base station via radio, and

[0012]FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of the method that runs in the interfacemodule according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Multimedia and infotainment systems for passenger entertainmentand information are being installed in more and more vehicles. Thisapplies in particular to private vehicles, airplanes, buses, and trains.In this area, relatively reasonably priced systems are also increasinglybeing used, whose system architectures are derived from the desktop andserver field of industrial automation and telecommunication. Thisaffects the computer architectures utilized as well as the operatingsystems used.

[0014] A device shall now be created according to the present inventionthat monitors and controls the available multimedia and infotainmentsystems and helps to reduce possible downtimes, and creates betterdiagnostic possibilities as well. In particular, critical boot,shutdown, and reset operations of the components may also be monitoredand controlled in such a manner.

[0015] The interface module used for device monitoring must distinguishitself through very high reliability. On the other hand, the componentsto be monitored are often not available with the same reliabilitybecause of the complexity of the hardware used, the operating system andthe software components. The interface module according to the presentinvention fulfills the following requirements:

[0016] It is space-saving and also suitable for example for C- ortop-hat rail mounting in paths or as a portable service and diagnosticdevice with an accumulator. It is reasonably priced and quite fail-safe,and is also characterized by a more modest power consumption.

[0017] It is consequently possible to control and monitor devices, tocollect diagnostic data, and to directly or automatically respond toerror conditions.

[0018] The automatic monitoring of the components through a functionsignal in the interface module corresponds to a watchdog function. Thefunction signal is only produced by the components and sent via anexisting communication connection when all important applications areproperly running. The applications run on the individual components. Ifthe function signal does not arrive after a configurable time interval,it is the task of the interface module to trigger a restart of thecomponent. This may be realized for example by actuating a relay via apower output.

[0019] It makes particular sense to use the monitoring functionality inbuses and trains with built-in infotainment systems where the passengersdo not have any direct access to a power-on, power-off or reset switch,and even the vehicle personnel cannot restart the infotainment systemduring the trip. Through the interface module, the monitoring may besimply connected via LAN or W-LAN or mobile radio to an Intranet or theInternet as the communication network. In a radio-based connection,travelling vehicles may also be reached problem-free in such a manner.The users, i.e., developers, field testers, service technicians, andtransportation employees, may interactively access the data stored inthe interface module and, depending on the configuration, requestfurther data from the application units.

[0020]FIG. 1 shows the device according to the present invention as ablock diagram. An antenna 2 is connected to an input/output of atransmitter/receiver station 1. The transmitter/receiver station 1 isconnected via a data input/output to a processor 3, which is connectedto a memory 4 via its second data input/output. Through a third datainput/output, processor 3 is connected to a bus controller 5 and througha data output, to a circuit breaker 11. Bus controller 5 is connected toa bus 6 via its second data input/output. Here, bus 6 may be a CAN-bus.A bus controller 7 is coupled to bus 6 also via a data input/output. Atthe second data input/output, bus controller 7 is connected to a control8, which in turn is connected via a data input/output to a display 9having a display field 10.

[0021] The interface module is formed by antenna 2 oftransmitter/receiver station 1, processor 3 and memory 4. Processor 3ensures that function verifications of the components connected to bus6, such as display 9, are performed at specified times via bus 6. Thecomponents connected to bus 6 send back their results on the functiontest to the interface module so that the interface module then- seeswhether all the components are working flawlessly. If that is the case,a function signal is produced through processor 3 and is then sent viatransmitter/receiver station 1 and antenna 2. However, if an error isdetected, processor 3 switches circuit breaker 11, which interrupts orcloses the power supply to display 9. By switching circuit breaker 11 onor off, display 9 is restarted. A circuit breaker may be allocated hereto each component or there may be circuit breakers for groups ofcomponents. Instead of a circuit breaker, a command that control 8 anddisplay 9 must perform a restart may also be sent from processor 3 viabus 6. As a result, a restart triggered by a software command isproduced.

[0022] Instead of a bus, a LAN, W-LAN, mobile radio, serial or parallelinterfaces or two-wire lines for the individual components may also beused. For the radio interface, which is realized through antenna 2 andtransmitter/receiver station 1, different communication possibilitiesare provided. A wireless LAN, W-LAN, mobile radio or radio transmissionsystems may be used here as well. It is also possible at certainstations to establish a contact-bound communication between theinterface module and the communication network.

[0023]FIG. 2 illustrates how a vehicle having the interface moduleaccording to the present invention and antenna 2 is connected to a basestation 14 and antenna 13 via a radio channel, base station 14 thenestablishing the connection to Internet 15.

[0024]FIG. 3 shows the sequence of operations on the interface moduleaccording to the present invention as a flow chart. In procedure step16, the function test of the individual components, such as display 9with its control 8, takes place through processor 3 of the interfacemodule via bus 6. If the interface module sees that this test ran withfaults, the components concerned or the component concerned are forcedto restart via circuit breaker 11. This takes place in procedure step18. Alternatively, in a faulty test, a reset signal may initially betransmitted to the components concerned in order to trigger a warmstart, for example via a CAN-bus connection. If the components concernedare still not functioning correctly after the reset, a restart is forcedvia the circuit breaker, which is generally known as a cold start.

[0025] However, if it is detected in procedure step 17 that the functiontest relates that all components are functioning properly, processor 3produces a function signal, which is transmitted viatransmitter/receiver station 1 and antenna 2 to a base station 14 withits antenna 13 in order to transmit it via Internet 15 to a computer andin this way to document that the components in the vehicle 12 concernedare functioning properly. After a time Ot, as in procedure step 20, thefunction test is repeated here in procedure step 16.

What is claimed is:
 1. An interface module in a vehicle (12), theinterface module having a processor (3) and a memory (4) and beingconnected to components (8, 9) in the vehicle, the interface modulehaving a radio interface (1, 2) for coupling to an externalcommunication network (15), the processor (3) having means formonitoring the components, wherein the processor (3) repeatedly producesa function signal at specified time intervals and sends it via the radiointerface (1, 2) provided the components (8, 9) are functioningproperly.
 2. The interface module as recited in claim 1, wherein theprocessor (3) triggers a restart of the particular component that doesnot function properly.
 3. The interface module as recited in claim 2,wherein the processor (3) triggers a restart by switching a circuitbreaker (11).
 4. The interface module as recited in claim 1, 2, or 3,wherein the components belong to an infotainment system.
 5. Theinterface module as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein thevehicle (12) is designed for public short-distance passengertransportation.
 6. The interface module as recited in one of thepreceding claims, wherein the memory (4) is designed as a semiconductormemory.
 7. The interface module as recited in one of the precedingclaims, wherein the components (8, 9) are connected to the interfacemodule (3, 4) via a bus (6).